A few news items early in the year: Former Illini Ella Masar has posted her thoughts about Dan Borislow and MagicJack, and it's not a pretty picture: http://blog.ellamasar.com/2012/02/no-more-silence/ Current Illini Vanessa DiBernardo has been selected for the USA U-20 team for their trip to Spain 2/3-2/15: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/013012aac.html Still waiting to see a spring schedule. Also, not sure when we'll see a signing day release. Illinois tends to wait until all recruits (scholarship and walkon) are admitted, so they can put out a single release showcasing all incoming players equally.
Signing release came out a little earlier today. Six players in this class, plus a transfer from Miami FL: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/020312aad.html
Talking with Ella Masar at 4:20pm central time today about her magicJack experience and more. You can stream at wdws.com.
For those interested, here's the podcast of my conversation with Ella Masar: http://www.wdws.com/audio/2012-02-06/ella-masar-2-6-2012.html
Also, Top Drawer labels the Illini 2012 recruiting class as one of the 20 best in the country. Ohio State the only other Big Ten team mentioned: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/play...3728/woMens-College-Recruiting-Classes-Ranked
Spring schedule released: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/022012aaf.html A pretty good slate with Marquette, Wisconsin, Missouri and Loyola Also, awards banquet held yesterday: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/022012aah.html
Congrats to Vanessa DiBernardo for making the cut for the USA U-20 WNT qualifying roster: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer/club-soccer-archives/nid-23829
In addition to Vanessa DiBernardo playing for the U-20 team for World Cup qualifying, head coach Janet Rayfield will also serve as an assistant on the team under Steve Swanson. http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/022312aaa.html
Most here probably know that the USA U-20 team won gold in the CONCACAF championship. Vanessa DiBernardo had a good tournament, with a pair of goals and an assist. Janet Rayfield was an assistant coach on the staff: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/031212aaj.html Meanwhile, the Illini and Marquette played to a 2-2 tie on Saturday in Champaign. http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/recaps/033112aaa.html
Also, DiBernardo and Rayfield will be at the U-20 camp next week in California: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/040312aaa.html The next spring game is this Saturday near St. Louis vs. Missouri. Start time is 1pm if anyone near Fenton wants to come watch.
Illinois lost to Mizzou last weekend 3-0. Didn't see anything on the Illinois website, but here's the Mizzou release: http://www.mutigers.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/041112aac.html DiBernardo and Janet Rayfield are at U-20 camp in California this week.
I know this is off-topic, and it is most definitely not meant as a comment on Rayfield, but in relation to the preceding post, I believe the best soccer UCLA played the past few years was when Jill Ellis was away from UCLA on national team duty and Shannon MacMillan was handling the coaching duties. Interestingly, after Ellis returned, MacMillan left her assistant coach position at UCLA. That all may be meaningless, but I've always wondered about what, if anything, it all meant.
An interesting topic, to be sure. If Illinois is in that situation this fall, I think they should be fairly well-equipped to handle it, at least on the coaching side. Jeff Freeman and Leisha Alcia are both experienced assistants. It's never easy to play without a player of DiBernardo's skill. There are some other playmakers on the roster, but no one quite like Vanessa.
On the field this weekend, without Rayfield and DiBernardo, Illinois will play a conference opponent this Sunday when Wisconsin pays a visit. It's the first time I can remember Illinois playing a conference opponent in a spring game. Is that common elsewhere?
Perhaps not common, but for the last few years, the ACC has been gathering 6 of its own to a one day event south of Greensboro (as part of a showcase event for 45, or so, teams.) Each ACC women's team plays two 60-minute games and may get to watch the three other ACC teams in action, FWIW, and the coaches get to scout a lot of prospective recruits.
Yes. My wife and I have enjoyed going over. The atmosphere is nice, and it's fun to see the players hanging out together between games, sometimes visiting with players from the other ACC teams present who they may have known from ODP or wherever.
Illinois beat Wisconsin 3-1 on Saturday in Champaign: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/recaps/041512aac.html
Former Illini Ella Masar returns to the Chicago Red Stars for the 2012 season: http://chicagoredstars.net/2012/05/04/ella-masar-to-make-return-to-red-stars/
Not likely. First, I don't think Garrett is going anywhere. Second, Mac has repeatedly said she wants to stay in San Diego to raise her child near family. If she coaches again in the college ranks, I think it will be at an SD school.
Illinois has released its 2012 schedule, and it's a tough one. Chris from All White Kit rates the non-conference portion as tied for the 4th toughest that's been released so far (@Chris_AWK) http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/sched/ill-w-soccer-sched.html Road games with UCLA and Wake Forest, also a game vs. VA Tech at Wake.
Found out today that sophomore-to-be Stephanie Pouse has left the team and is transferring to Illinois State. Don't think she'll be playing soccer there. It's a significant loss, as she was a Big Ten all-Freshman selection starting at outside back last season. Best of luck to Stephanie in whatever she decides to pursue...she was a fun player to watch and to interview.
Looking at the Illinois schedule and the U-20 World Cup schedule today, and it looks like Vanessa DiBernardo and head coach Janet Rayfield will miss at least these games: 8/17 vs Western Michigan 8/19 at Illinois State 8/24 at UC Santa Barbara 8/26 at UCLA 9/1 vs Milwaukee 9/7 vs Virginia Tech 9/9 at Wake Forest That's assuming Janet is on the coaching staff, which she was during qualifying. Some tough games without their best player. The US is in a tough group, so I guess there's a chance they could be back sooner. Regardless, some other players will have to step up in Vanessa's absence.
USWNT confirmed yesterday what we had been assuming...Vanessa DiBernardo made the final roster for the U-20 World Cup in a couple of weeks. Janet Rayfield will be on the coaching staff as well: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/080212aac.html
